Our purpose
Business creates opportunities for people to work together, understand different perspectives and build shared interests. UECN connects businesses across China and the UAE to encourage cooperation, strengthen mutual understanding and contribute to peace.
Discover Our MissionThe UAE Ministry of Finance issued Ministerial Decision No. 197 of 2026 to update regulations for the national Electronic Invoicing System. The decision grants a 24-month exclusion for intra-tax group transactions from January 1, 2027, and removes in-country data storage and system failure reporting requirements. The amendments take effect retroactively from October 1, 2026.
Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi addressed nearly 300 business leaders at the Ras Al Khaimah-China Business Summit in Shenzhen, highlighting opportunities in advanced manufacturing, AI, renewable energy, and logistics. Separately, 14 global financial institutions representing over $5 trillion in assets announced plans to set up bases in Abu Dhabi Global Market.
A UAE delegation led by Undersecretary Eng. Sharif Al Olama completed a five-day mission to China to evaluate industrial solutions in clean power and smart mobility. Representatives from Mubadala, ADIO, and AD Ports Group met with Chinese industrial groups to discuss battery storage, electric vehicles, and automated logistics.
Dubai Chambers formalized four cooperation agreements with commerce chambers in Beijing, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Chongqing during the Dubai Business Forum in Shenzhen. Dubai's non-oil trade with China reached AED 363.5 billion in 2025 as Chinese firms expand presence across the Gulf.
The UAE Ministry of Finance has issued Ministerial Decision No. 197 of 2026, introducing key amendments to electronic invoicing regulations. The update temporarily exempts intra-tax group transactions for 24 months and lifts physical in-country storage requirements for invoices.
Understand the policies, laws and regulations shaping business across China and the UAE.
Business registration · Investment · Taxation · Customs · Trade · Financial regulation · Employment · Visas · Free-zone policies
Ras Al Khaimah Ruler Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi has arrived in Shenzhen leading a UAE delegation on a working visit across southern China through October 23, 2026. The visit includes hosting the Ras Al Khaimah-China Business Summit in Shenzhen and opening a representative office in Guangzhou. The delegation will also visit Fuzhou to sign a bilateral agreement establishing friendly relations with Fujian Province.
The Saudi Central Bank has ended its formal participation in Project mBridge, the multilateral central bank digital currency platform developed with China and the UAE. While the central bank stated that its exit was planned following a completed proof-of-concept phase in May 2025, the disclosure has prompted debate over geopolitical pressures and non-dollar settlement systems. The platform continues operations among remaining central banks, including China, the UAE, Hong Kong, and Thailand.
Abu Dhabi has launched TAMM Global to license and export its AI-powered unified government services platform to foreign administrations. Multiple US municipal governments have engaged in talks to deploy customized versions of the platform, with the first international client expected in the United States. The domestic TAMM portal currently integrates over 1,200 public and private sector services for 4.7 million users.
Follow the trade, investment and partnerships bringing China and the UAE closer together.
A UAE delegation led by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology concluded its participation in the China International Industry Fair 2026 in Shanghai. Officials met with major Chinese robotics, automation, and aviation firms to advance technology deployment across UAE factories. Separately, Dubai Chambers signed bilateral cooperation agreements with four regional Chinese chambers of commerce.
Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi addressed the Ras Al Khaimah–China Business Summit in Shenzhen, engaging nearly 300 delegates and institutional investors. Discussions focused on cross-border cooperation in artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, digital infrastructure, and renewable energy.
UAE-based Gargash Prime and Jingdong Property, the infrastructure arm of China's JD.com, have entered into a joint venture partnership to develop a 250,000-square-metre logistics hub in Dubai. The agreement was finalized in Shenzhen during the Dubai Business Forum – China. The facility will operate as a regional distribution and fulfillment center supporting supply chains across the Middle East.
The UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology has concluded its mission to the China International Industry Fair 2026 in Shanghai. Officials engaged in bilateral meetings and factory tours focused on robotics, smart manufacturing, and automation under the 'Factory Forward UAE' initiative. The delegation also highlighted UAE industrial incentives to attract Chinese advanced manufacturing enterprises.
Explore the industries creating new opportunities for cooperation across both markets.
Finance & Investment
Senior UAE officials met with Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan on the sidelines of the Asian Financial Forum. The discussions centered on advancing bilateral economic cooperation between the UAE and Hong Kong/China. The UAE delegation included the UAE Ambassador to China, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance, and the UAE Consul General in Hong Kong.
Finance & Investment
Trade across the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority reached AED 246 billion ($66.98 billion) in the first half of 2026, marking a 17 percent increase year-on-year. The figures represent DIEZ's sixth consecutive year of record first-half trade performance. The zones accounted for approximately 16 percent of Dubai's total non-oil foreign trade during the period.
Energy & Sustainability
Chinese electric and hybrid vehicle manufacturers are increasingly focusing on the Gulf Cooperation Council as tariffs and regulatory barriers restrict Western market access, according to Asia Times. Industry estimates indicate the UAE represented approximately 42% of the GCC electric vehicle market in 2025, supported by roughly 2,800 charging points. Automakers including BYD, Geely, and Chery are expanding distribution networks, after-sales operations, and charging partnerships across the region.
Energy & Sustainability
UAE state-backed investments across Egyptian energy and port infrastructure are serving as a strategic hedge against transit disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, Dubai's real GDP contracted 2.3% year-on-year in the first half of the year due to drops in trade and transport. The UAE continues building alternative maritime corridors through domestic pipelines, Khorfakkan, and Mediterranean ports in Egypt.
Stay informed about official travel advisories, entry restrictions and transport disruptions across the Middle East.
Official travel advisory
Yemen, including Socotra Island
Airspace restriction / airport disruption
Jordanian airspace
Entry, visa and border restriction
Qatar entry ports
Flight cancellation / route change
Beirut / US-Lebanon air routes
Alerts are based on official sources and show when they were last verified. Always follow the guidance of the official authorities. The absence of an alert does not mean that a destination is safe.
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